ABC's "Revenge" and "Pan Am" Retain Status as the Week's Top 2 New Dramas

2011-12 WEEK No. 1 Live + 7 Day Ratings:

Based on the first round of Live + 7 Day rating for the 2011-12 television season, ABC saw its premiere week primetime averages jump from its originally reported Live + Same Day numbers by 1.5 million viewers (9.9 million to 11.4 million) and by 21% in Adults 18-49 (2.8/9 to 3.4/8). With Household DVR penetration rising sharply year to year (from 38% to 42%), ABC's premiere week increases were bigger this year than last from the initially reported Live + Same Day numbers to the final Live + 7 Day averages. ABC finished as the 2nd-most-watched network during premiere week among in the Live + 7 Day averages.

· Similarly to last season, ABC series were among the most popularly recorded and played back. ABC aired 3 of the Top 4 biggest actual Adult 18-49 gainers during premiere week, including the Top 2 gainers with the premiere episodes of "Modern Family": "Modern Family SP-9/21" surged by 2.4 rating points (from a 6.2 rating to an 8.6 rating), "Modern Family" jumped by 2.3 rating points (6.0 rating to 8.3 rating) and "Grey's Anatomy" picked up an additional 1.7 rating points (4.1 rating to a 5.8 rating). In fact, "Modern Family's" 2.3 rating point build for the week was the highest-ever for any regular TV telecast.

· Based on the Live + 7 Day Ratings, ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" emerged as TV's No. 1 drama during season-premiere week among Adults 18-49 (5.8 rating). Initially in the Live + Same Day statistics, "Grey's" placed as TV's No. 3 drama for the week and moved up to No. 1 based on Nielsen's final rankings, leaping over CBS' "NCIS" (5.5 rating) and "Criminal Minds" (5.2 rating).

· Based on Nielsen's final ratings for the week, ABC's "Revenge" and "Pan Am" solidified their ranks as the season's Top 2 new dramas during premiere week in Adults 18-49. The "Revenge" opener saw its ratings surge from a 3.3 rating to a 4.2 rating (+0.9 rating), while the "Pam Am" premiere soared from a 3.1 rating to a 4.1 rating (+1.0 rating).

· With an increase in DVR penetration year to year, a number of ABC returning series posted bigger increases than last year during premiere week via time-shifted viewing in Total Viewers and/or Adults 18-49, including "Castle," "Dancing With the Stars: The Results," "DWTS," "Grey's Anatomy," "The Middle" and "Modern Family."

A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to 42% currently, from 38% at the same point in 2010. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.

Source: The Nielsen Company (National Live+7 Day Program Ratings), week of 9/19/11.